Unser Jr., Rahal, Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame – ‘Nuff Said

2008 LONG BEACH MOTORSPORTS WALK OF FAME induction ceremony - Mario Andretti, Parnelli Jones and Gary Gabelich were the honorees. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (The EDJE) 2008

Unser Jr., Rahal, Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame – ‘Nuff Said

The previous honorees to have a custom medallion honoring their motorsports achievements ... laid in a concrete strip running North to South along Pine Avenue, in front of the West facing Long Beach Convention Center ... all had a connection to the event of the Long Beach Grand Prix, lived and worked out of Southern California, and/or had broad motorsports careers of great achievement and success.

Phil Hill (left) and Jackie Stewart at the 1991 United States Grand Prix. Image Credit: Stuart Seeger

The first inductees of Phil Hill, the first American Formula 1 champion in 1961 and was raised in Santa Monica, California, where he lived until his death August 28, 2008, and Dan Gurney who also made most of his fame in Formula 1 (86 Grand Prix starts ranks third, and his total of four GP wins is second only to Mario Andretti) and team owner from Riverside, came in 2006.

The Andy Granatelli STP Special Gas-Turbine car driven by Parnelli Jones in 1967, on display at the Indianapolis 500 Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. Image Credit: The359 (2007)

2007 Walk of Fame Inductees saw Brian Redman the first winner of the LBGP in 1975 with the one-time Formula 500 series event (a feeder series to Formula 1), Chris Pook the innovator of the modern day temporary circuit and creator of the 34, going on 35 year LBGP event, and Newman/Haas Racing Team owners - Paul Newman and Carl Haas who as team owners delivered a car and driver combination that won the LBGP a record six times (three wins with Mario Andretti / three wins with Sebastian Bourdais).

Walk of Fame Inductees for 2008 included Mario Andretti, a four time winner of the LBGP and the only driver to have repeat wins while driving in different open wheel sanctioning series (1977 with Formula 1 and beginning in 1984 in the inaugural CART/ChampCar World Series race).

The Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame medallions include renditions of the racers' cars and their major achievements in motorsports. 2008 inductee Mario Andretti's medallion above. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (The EDJE) 2008

Life long resident of Torrance, California, racing legend Parnelli Jones won races in many types of vehicles: sports cars, IndyCars, sprint cars, midget cars, off-road vehicles, and stock cars. With the sanctioning take over of the race by IndyCar in the merger, Parnelli was a key inductee in that he is most remembered for being the first driver to qualify over 150 mph at the Indianapolis 500, winning the pole position at a speed of 150.370 mph in 1962, his 1963 Indianapolis 500 win, and almost winning the 1967 Indy 500 in an Andy Granatelli STP sponsored turbine car. The third inductee for 2008 was Gary Gabelich who was honored posthumously (August 29, 1940 – January 26, 1984) by the City of Long Beach. Gary, a resident of Bixby Knolls, set the land speed record with his rocket-powered vehicle "Blue Flame" on October 23, 1970, achieving an average speed of 622.287 mph (1,001.474 km/h).

Al Unser, Jr. and Bobby Rahal represent drivers (and car owners) from a more current era. These guys could almost hop in a Dallara IndyCar right now and be competitive on the track through the 11 turns and two speed sections that make Long Beach the challenge that has set the standard for temporary street circuits. After all, this would be the first time the Dallara will be racing in the streets of Long Beach, but these inductees have owned the track a time or two during the heyday of their driving careers.

1991 Long Beach Grand Prix podium left to right with Eddie Cheever 3rd, Al Unser, Jr. 1st, and Bobby Rahal 2nd. Image Credit: indycar.com

This excerpted and edited from Motorsport.com –

RACING LEGENDS BOBBY RAHAL AND AL UNSER JR. TO BE HONORED AT LONG BEACH MOTORSPORTS WALK OF FAME
Motorsport.com - 2009-03-16

"I'm delighted that we will add two more racing legends to the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame," said Mayor Bob Foster, who will be presenting the medallions to the honorees.
----
"This year's inductees represent not only great drivers, but individuals that have contributed much to the success of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach over the years," said Jim Michaelian, president and CEO of the Grand Prix Association of Long Beach. "That's why 'Little Al' is known as the 'King of the Beach' and Bobby has achieved great success at Long Beach not only on the track but also as an owner."

Al Unser Jr. followed in the footsteps of his father and an uncle (Bobby) to become repeat champion at Indianapolis, winning the '500' in 1992 and 1994. Champion of the Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) series in 1990 and 1994, Unser won the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach an incredible six times: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994 and 1995 and, overall, took the checkered flag in 31 events between 1984 and 1995. Unser won the 24 Hours of Daytona at age 24, is a two-time IROC champion and the youngest IROC champion ever. In 1994 he dominated the CART open-wheel racing season winning eight of 16 races and was named ABC's Wide World of Sports Athlete of the Year. Unser will be competing in this year's Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, Saturday, April 18, having won the world-famous event in 1985.

Bobby Rahal is one of a select group of individuals who have won the Indianapolis 500 as a driver (1986) and an owner (2004). Between 1982 and 1992, Rahal won 24 races and captured the CART season title in 1986, 1987 and 1992. He won on ovals, road courses and competed in Formula One and NASCAR events. Rahal won championships driving sports cars, winning several SCCA titles and shared the winning car in the 24 Hours of Daytona (1981) and the 12 Hours of Sebring (1987). He made 15 starts at the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, finishing second four times. In 1996 he formed Rahal Letterman Racing, with David Letterman as a minority owner.
Reference Here>>

The 4th annual induction ceremony for the Long Beach Motorsports Walk Of Fame, and the first one held with the full field of IndyCar Series teams and drivers ready to take it to the streets of Long Beach, is April 16 during Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach Week.

The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame, located on the Eastside of South Pine Avenue right in front of the Long Beach Convention Center.

… notes From The EDJE

IndyCar 2009 - Expanded Cable Telecast Coverage On VERSUS

VERSUS - The network will air more than 130 hours of IndyCar Series coverage throughout the season with a minimum of seven hours each week the network airs a race, the most ever during a race week. Image Credit: VERSUS (2009)

IndyCar 2009 - Expanded Cable Telecast Coverage On VERSUS

We are now entering the sophomore year in the merger of North American open wheel series racing unified under the banner of IndyCar and the IndyCar Series. The teams and drivers that had transitioned from the ChampCar World Series into the ICS are now familiar with the equipment, all of the tracks (with an advantage going to them at Long Beach ... which will be new to the "established" IndyCar teams), and the competition that can be expected from the other drivers.

A pretty amazing transition when one thinks of it ... the teams and drivers from one series, that is having trouble making a profitable run of it, being able to become one with a similar open wheel racing series and continue their craft of competition.

One of the major benefits of the merger in this second year is the commitment one cable television channel is able to make toward the programming broadcast of the series.

VERSUS, the network that celebrates real competition and the exclusive cable television home of the IndyCar Series, announced details for extensive additional race programming in 2009. In total, the network will air more than 130 hours of IndyCar Series coverage throughout the season with a minimum of seven hours each week the network airs a race.

The programming will include four hour-long specials in March, additional programming in May surrounding the Indianapolis 500 and three-hour programming blocks on Mondays each race week that will feature flag-to-flag coverage of Firestone Indy Lights events and encores of IndyCar Series races. All IndyCar Series telecasts will be produced and available in HD.



This excerpted and edited from VERSUS -

“It’s important to us that racing fans are given more coverage than ever before and we are very excited about the terrific schedule we put together for the first season of the IndyCar Series on VERSUS,” said Marc Fein, Executive Vice President of Programming, Production and Business Operations for VERSUS. “Ancillary programming to launch the season a month early, coupled with Indy Lights events and encores of IndyCar Series races throughout the season are great complements to the in-depth coverage of our 12 live races.”

VERSUS will kick-off the racing season a month early with four one-hour specials airing each Saturday in March at 2 p.m. ET.

The first show aired on March 7, it was titled "Danica: Five Years Running" and will include highlights of her career—including her 2008 IndyCar Series win—and her thoughts on the upcoming season.

The second program, IndyCar Series: Top 10 Closest Finishes on March 14 will feature the top-10 closest finishes in IndyCar Series history, including the 2008 season finale at Chicagoland Speedway and the closet finish ever as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records. The show will also include the last several laps of each race and post-race driver interviews.

On March 21 VERSUS will air IndyCar Series: Crashes and Conflicts which will showcase some of the most memorable incidents and conflicts between drivers and several of the most incredible crashes in recent IndyCar Series history.

The network concludes its month of programming on March 28 with IndyCar Series World Tour 2009. This special not only features highlights from each race track on the 2009 IndyCar Series schedule, but also showcase highlights from the first street-course race in series history in St. Petersburg, Fla., in 2005 and top photo finishes from the site of the 2009 championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“IndyCar fans have been asking for significantly more coverage of the sport and with our new partnership with VERSUS we have responded to our fans in a way that we think they will love,” said Charlie Morgan, president and chief operating officer for IMS Productions. “With the new VERSUS schedule it will be a weekend of IndyCar programming with Qualifying coverage, expanded race day coverage, and race encores. With so many great drivers, teams and sponsors, the time is right for expanded programming.”

The network will air 12 live IndyCar Series events in 2009 beginning with live coverage of the season-opener from St. Petersburg on April 5. Each of VERSUS’ race telecasts will last a minimum of three hours and will include extended pre-race coverage. VERSUS will also air one-hour preview shows at 6 p.m. ET the day before each race which will feature qualification highlights and all of the relevant IndyCar Series stories of that weekend.

VERSUS will present encore presentations of its IndyCar Series races in a two-hour block each Monday following the live Sunday events.

The Twin Ring Motegi race and season finale Homestead-Miami event will re-air on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, due to their Friday and Saturday live race dates. The network will also air highlights of 12 Firestone Indy Lights races in weekly hour-long telecasts each Monday after the event takes place. In addition to the re-broadcasts, VERSUS will air two Firestone Indy Lights races live in the 2009 season: the May 22 event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the October 9 race from Homestead-Miami Speedway. For exact times and dates of all IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights programming, return to VERSUS.com. VERSUS will also feature extensive coverage of all qualification days at Indianapolis Motor Speedway leading up to the Indianapolis 500. The network’s month of May schedule will be announced in mid-March.
Reference Here>>

... notes from The EDJE

A Tweet And A Test For Lance

Lance Armstrong returns; cycling comeback starts in Australia January 19, 2009 - Members of the media surround Lance Armstrong and other riders on Sunday in Adelaide, Australia, before the start of the Cancer Council Classic, a prelude to the Tour Down Under. Image Credit: Jamie McDonald / AFP / Getty Images

A Tweet And A Test For Lance

After spending the weekend in Los Angeles participating in a fundraising event in conjunction with NIKE and many trendy young artists at the Motalban Theater called "Stages", Lance Armstrong flew to Nice France to train and catch up with his team. He was there about 36 hours when he launched this Tweet!

A Twitter logged 3-11-2009 12:pm PT:

Sitting down and eating dinner and guess what? Knock knock. Anti-doping control. This is the 23rd one since the comeback.

This is important to note because Lance officially began his comeback about the time Barack Obama took the oath of office to become the President of the United States.

Using January 19, 2009 as the time that the Lance Rides Again Comeback actually started, and today being March 11, 2009 ... that makes it that Lance Armstrong can expect an avarage of one test request per 2.26 days.

Contador Retains Yellow Jersey in Nice - Posted by Astana Cycling | Mar 9, 2009 12: 0 AM PDT - Image Credit: LAF

The next time anyone says that Lance rides dirty remember the above statistic ... Lance Armstrong has the strongest case I've ever heard of to lay claim as the most drug tested athlete on Earth ... and of all time.

In the run up to the 2009 Tour de France, the testing will only become more frequent giving a reason why Mr. Armstrong probably has the best first name ever for this type of intensive scrutinity.

That's right ... LANCE!

Blood test, please, Mr. Armstrong.

... notes from The EDJE

Lance Armstrong Says "Thank You LA" From Stages Event

Lance Armstrong leads approximately 700 cycling enthusiasts through the streets of the East side of Hollywood 2.2 miles to the Montalban Theater and the Stages event. Stages, a global art exhibition and sale event, sponsored by NIKE, provides a new way to support the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) and its LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign. Image Credit: Lance Armstrong via Twitter (2009)

Lance Armstrong Says "Thank You LA" From Stages Event

After Hope Rides Again 2-mile cycling tour in Los Angeles Saturday afternoon, the 7-time Tour de France champion and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong declared a new global initiative to combat cancer. Along side Mark Parker, CEO & President of Nike, activist/artist Shepard Fairey, Barry McGee and others, the announcement was made among 700 people in attendance at the Montálban Theatre. To kick-off the event, an official unveiling took place for Shepard Fairey’s latest work, inspired by Lance Armstrong.

Nike Sportswear + Lance Armstrong - "Stages" Touring Art Exhibition Supporting Livestrong from Stephen Wong on Vimeo

"This year, it's about more than winning the race. It's about people coming together to use our talents and abilities for a cause bigger than ourselves and doing everything within our power to help those in their fight to overcome cancer," said Lance Armstrong. "This endeavor will help raise awareness and much needed funds for the foundation and those who need it most, researchers, patients, and their families."

TREK cycle stylized by street/pop artist, KAWS. Lance Tweeted - "OMG. My new Trek Madone that KAWS designed. Wow. Speechless." - Image Credit: Lance Armstrong via Twitter (2009)

The new initiative, titled Stages, is a global art exhibition, of which more than 20 of the world’s most influential contemporary artists will showcase artworks specifically created for the exhibition tour. Some of artists to participate include Shepard Fairey, Damien Hirst, Tom Sachs, Barry McGee, Marc Newson, and more, with the first leg of the tour at Emmanuel Perrotin Gallery in Paris on July 16th, 2009. All works will go on sale with proceeds toward Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) in the fight against caner. Other legs on the Stages: Global Art Exhibition include New York, Portland, Oregon, and Los Angeles.

To further contribute in the fight against cancer, Nike also announced 2 new athletic wear collections: Hope Rides Again - apparel and footwear collection and Greatest Hits footwear pack, with all proceeds going to LAF.

The extraordinary list of participating artists will also include:
Geoff McFetridge | Raymond Pettibon | José Parlá | Ed Ruscha | KAWS | Christopher Wool | Dzine | Eric White | Barry McGee | Kenny Scharf | Os Gêmeos | Marc Newson | Rosson Crow | Taryn Simon | JR | Yoshitomo Nara | Suejin Chung | Lari Pittman | Aaron Young | Jules de Balincourt | Takashi Murakami

Additional Tweet by Lance Armstrong - "At the end of the event here at the Montalban [Theater, Stages Event]. My boy Ben Harper and Relentless 7 performing. Love him like a brother." Image Credit: Lance Armstrong viw Twitter (2009)

A great time was had by all, starting with Ben Stiller to open and Relentless 7 toward the end!

Next up, it was announced at last night's NIKE event at the Montalban Theater, news of the upcoming “Stages” art show that will debut at GALLERIE EMMANUEL PERROTIN in Paris on July 16th, 2009 during the 2009 Tour de France.

Lance leaves LA, for now ... final Tweet, 6:45 pm PT:

At LAX flying to Europe. Had one of those video/papparazzi dudes here asking dumb questions. Felt bad for the guy, he needs better material.

Additional Photos Of The Nike Sportswear Livestrong Collection>>

... notes from The EDJE

Lance Armstrong Will Be Ready For His Close-Up In Hollywood

After a very eventful East coast swing, Shepard Fairey is back working his home turf of LA, and this time it’s a BIG canvas… How big? Well how about the side of a theatre? To be exact, it’s the side of the historic Montalban Theatre, which now houses Nike’s crown jewel “Sportswear” store. This enormous mural is a collaboration commissioned by Nike to commemorate Lance Armstrong’s return to cycling. This amazing mural will be officially unveiled on Saturday, March 7th at the conclusion of Lance Armstrong’s “Hollywood Ride”, a fundraiser to benefit the fight against cancer. Image Credit: Arrested Motion

Lance Armstrong Will Be Ready For His Close-Up In Hollywood

This Saturday, Nike Sportswear and Lance Armstrong (7-time Tour de France winner) will team up to launch Stages (located on the East side of old Hollywood), a global art exhibition and sale featuring original artwork from more than 20 of the world’s most creative and diverse artists. The event will include globally renowned artists: Shepard Fairey, Geoff McFetridge, Eric White, and Rosson Crow.

"ACTION" section of a much larger murual - Shepard Fairey x Lance Armstrong Mural @ Nike’s Montalban - Image Credit: Arrested Motion

Stages will provide a new way to support the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) and the ongoing battle to overcome cancer.

LOCATION:
Nike Sportswear at the Montalbán Theater - 1615 Vine Street - Hollywood, CA 90028

The last time that Lance Armstrong was on a bike in these neighborhoods was when the 2009 Amgen Tour of California came to the LA Basin during Stage 7: Santa Clarita to Pasadena. The peleton here is making one of its five circuits around the Rose Bowl led by Astana with its most famous team member, Lance Armstrong riding about eight riders back in the helmet with the yellow top. Image Credit: Pro Cycling Media Group

In addition to the launch of Stages, Lance Armstrong will lead a group of 700 cycling enthusiasts on a 2.2 mile ride through the streets of Hollywood to celebrate his return to the bike and to unveil a new collection of Nike Sportswear apparel and footwear designed to celebrate human potential and overcoming adversity.


The ride will commence at the Children’s Hospital 4650 W. SUNSET at 5:45pm, also on the East side of Hollywood - Near the main Church of Scientology Center in Los Angeles.

A great time was had by all, starting with Ben Stiller to open!

... notes from The EDJE

First "TTL" (Transition Team Legion) IndyCar Test Of 2009

KV Racing Technology have signed Mario Moraes for the 2009 IndyCar Series (1-13-2009). The 20-year-old Brazilian jumped straight from British Formula 3 to IndyCar with Dale Coyne Racing last year and made steady progress during his rookie season, taking a best result of seventh at Watkins Glen, although several other promising performances ended in accidents (pictured here while competing in the Indy 500). /// "We are very excited to have Mario join our team," said team co-owner Jimmy Vasser. "Mario is young and extremely talented. He impressed us with his performances on both ovals and road/street circuits last year. Image Credit: Andy Sallee (2008)

First "TTL" (Transition Team Legion) IndyCar Test Of 2009

By all reports, the test was a success on almost every measure. Twenty-two cars (21 drivers) -- the most for a spring Open Test since 2002 -- turned 2,610 laps for a two-day total of 4,698 without incident.

Ryan Briscoe in the No. 6 Team Penske car topped the speed chart at 25.1984 seconds (212.156 mph), with reigning IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon second (25.2378; 211.825). Andretti Green Racing's Marco Andretti with his car sporting the livery of a new sponsor (25.3036; 211.274) was followed by Andretti Green Racing teammate Tony Kanaan (25.3582; 210.819).

Mario Moraes, driving the car sporting the livery of the one driven by Oriol Servia in 2008, making his debut with KV Racing Technology (driving last year for Dale Coyne Racing/Sonny's BBQ), cracked the top five for the second consecutive day (25.3842; 210.603). KV Racing Technology was the highest placing team and driver in this test session from the merger transition of the CCWS into the IRL last year.

Transition teams from last year did not really fare that well in this first session of the first full year of unification. First off, the Transition Team Legion (TTL) lost one of its drivers to an established IRL team – Will Power, formally with KV Racing Technology, has been tapped by Penske Racing to drive the car normally driven by Helio Castroneves who has to take a leave of absence to deal with a legal challenge about the payment of taxes. Will placed 7th overall behind Moraes.

Pacific Coast Motorsports and their driver from last year, Mario Dominguez were noticeably absent with rumors involving PCM about the possible combination of two teams coming together to compete rumbleing in from Indiana.

Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing solider on without their chief namesake, Paul Newman who passed away at the end of September of 2008. This will be the first year around the paddocks of top level Motosports racing the figure of Paul Newman will not be seen. Justin Wilson (placing 20th) has moved on to race for Dale Coyne while T-Team Legion standout Graham Rahal (10th), maintains his seat and is joined on the team by Robert Doornbos (placing 12th), CCWS Rookie of the Year for 2007. For the test, established IRL driver Mila Duno drove as a test driver for NHLR (placing 17th) while she sorts out her sponsorship and team package for 2009.

Other "TTL" drivers from last year include EJ Viso/HVM Racing 14th, and Jamie Camara/Conquest Racing at 21 out of 22 cars.

"TTL" (Transition Team Legion) drivers and/or teams in *BOLD – A total of eight participants qualify to be listed as "TTL".

This excerpted from indycar.com -

Track: Homestead-Miami Speedway - IndyCar - 1.485
Report: Combined Results of Practice Sessions February 25, 2009
Event: Homestead-Miami Open Test – Open Test 1 of 2
As Of: End of Open Test

Rank Car Driver Name C/E/T Session Time Speed Total Laps
(C)hassis: D=Dallara | (E)ngine: H=Honda | (T)ire: F=Firestone | (R) Rookie

1 - 6 Briscoe, Ryan D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.1984 212.156 214

2 - 9 Dixon, Scott D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.2378 211.825 282

3 - 26 Andretti, Marco D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.3036 211.274 212

4 - 11 Kanaan, Tony D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.3582 210.819 199

5 - 10 Franchitti, Dario D/H/F Practice 1 00:25.3842 210.603 240

*6 - 5 Moraes, Mario D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.3842 210.603 265

*7 - 3 Power, Will D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.3914 210.544 248

8 - 4 Wheldon, Dan D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.4085 210.402 115

9 - 24 Conway, Mike (R) D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.4299 210.225 276

*10 - 02 Rahal, Graham D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.4465 210.088 229

11 - 27 Mutoh, Hideki D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.4578 209.995 224

*12 - 06 Doornbos, Robert (R) D/H/F Practice 1 00:25.5077 209.584 256

13 - 14 Meira, Vitor D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.5210 209.475 219

*14 - 13 Viso, EJ D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.5356 209.355 130

15 - 7 Patrick, Danica D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.5383 209.333 231

16 - 3 Briscoe, Ryan D/H/F Practice 1 00:25.5479 209.254 14

*17 - 23 Duno, Milka D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.5809 208.984 222

18 - 20 Carpenter, Ed D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.5881 208.925 247

19 - 12 Matos, Raphael (R) D/H/F Practice 1 00:25.6165 208.694 247

*20 - 18 Wilson, Justin D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.6886 208.108 259

*21 - 34 Camara, Jaime D/H/F Practice 1 00:25.7790 207.378 161

22 - 98 Barrett, Stanton (R) D/H/F Practice 2 00:25.9180 206.266 208

Total Laps for Combined Sessions: 4698
Information provided by Indy Racing Information System - Copyright Indy Racing League, LLC 2009
Reference Here>>

... notes from The EDJE

Lance Armstrong Dispatches "Syringe Man" On Palomar Mountain

Fans and photographers gather around Lance Armstrong (center, white cap) as he begins his first real competition of the 2009 season at the Amgen Tour of California. Image Credit: Dave Cynkin

Lance Armstrong Dispatches "Syringe Man" On Palomar Mountain

In the final stage of the Tour Of California 2009, Lance Armstrong pulled off a move that I suspect he (or any competitive cyclist) has been wanting to perform since he was taken down by a fan's lanyard grabbing his handlebar on an uphill stage in the sixth of his seven Tour de France wins.

An exhibitionist fan dressed up in a black and yellow costume and carrying an apparatus that resembled two syringes on a stick (people have dubbed "Syringe Man"), was running along side of the peloton on snow covered Palomar Mountain. The man was alone and presented a hazard to the riders as they made their way up the mountain as he was alone and looking as if he were running in an unpredictable manner.

As the Peloton, led by Lance Armstrong's Astana Cycling Team team mates passed by the fan, Lance Armstrong helped "Syringe Man" out of the way and deposited him in a snowbank at the side of the road - hazard dispatched!

This excerpted and edited from Amgen Tour Of California -

Herbalife Play by Play
Feb. 22, 2009 17:46:41

We saved the best for last at the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Stage 8 was the Queen's stage, the most difficult of the race. It was a 96.8-mile pedal from Rancho Bernardo to Escondido, which was the first time the race has traveled to San Diego County.

The route included four California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains climbs, none bigger than the fearsome Palomar Mountain, an above categorization climbs that peaks at 5123 feet, the highest summit ever reached in the Tour.

With two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer (AST) in the leader's tunic, an abundance of attacks were expected in a final effort to claim the yellow jersey. An early break was established, but eventually collapsed on Palomar Mountain where an elite group formed including Leipheimer and his closest rivals – David Zabriskie (GRM) and Michael Rogers (THR).

On the descent four riders formed a new move, which then slimmed down to duo consisting of Frank Schleck (SAX) and Vincenzo Nibali (LIQ). The pair made it over the final KOM climb of the race on the testing Cole Grade and motored towards the finish on the valley floor while the Astana-powered peloton kept the gap close to preserve Leipheimer's overall victory.

After rounding the final corner, Schleck made his move and pulled away for the stage win ahead of Nibali. George Hincapie (THR) won the pack gallop to claim 3rd place for the day.

The top three positions on the General Classification held up:
Leipheimer followed by Zabriskie (36 seconds) and Rogers (45 seconds).

Tonight Leipheimer celebrates his Amgen Tour of California three-peat and his Team Astana toasts the Team victory. After winning back-to-back stages earlier in the week, Mark Cavendish (THR) takes home the Herbalife Sprint jersey. Jason McCartney (SAX) climbed his way to the California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains title. For the third consecutive year, Robert Gesink (RAB) leaves the Golden State with the Rabobank Best Young Rider jersey in his suitcase.
Reference Here>>

Good on Ya' ... Lance!

... notes from The EDJE